Fans of FC Schalke 04, which represents western Germany's Ruhr Valley in the country's top league, the Budesliga, can continue to support their team with a round of "Blue and White, how I love you".
The Gelsenkirchen club, which plays in Germany's top league, the Bundesliga, has confirmed yesterday they had no intention of outlawing fans from singing ther traditional song after Islamic scholar Bülent Ucar, who the club asked to study the lyrics, judged it was not offensive.
The third verse contains the line:
Mohammed war ein Prophet, der vom Fussballspielen nichts versteht/ Doch aus all der schoenen Farbenpracht hat er sich das Blau und Weisse ausgedacht.
(Muhammad was a prophet who understood nothing about football/ But of all the lovely colours he chose [Schalke's] blue and white.)
Since a reference to the ode to team's colours was carried in Turkish media, the team has received hundreds of complaints from Muslims.
Aiman Mazyek, the head of Germany's Central Council of Muslims, said his group would not call for a ban on the song but would like "an explanation of its background". He acknowledged that the line could anger some and noted that the area represented by the team had a large Turkish population. Germany has a Muslim population of over four million.
The German news website Deutsche Welle says the song was written in 1924 and it is not clear when the Muhammad reference made its way in.
Manchester City have completed the signing of teenage Schalke full-back Nils Zander.
The German youth international is yet to make his senior debut for the Bundesliga outfit but has shown enough in their junior ranks for City manager Mark Hughes to be convinced of his quality.
And, for all the star names Hughes continues to be linked with, the former Wales chief has made 16-year-old Zander his first capture of the summer.
It is not anticipated Zander will go straight into Hughes' senior squad.
However, with Michael Ball set to leave Eastlands this summer and Javier Garrido not convincing Hughes of his long-term value for the Blues, Zander could easily be called upon to deputise for Wayne Bridge at some stage next term.
Meanwhile, Stephen Ireland has been voted City's player of the year.
The midfielder has been one of the stand-out figures for the Blues in a campaign scarred by inconsistency.
And, after being overlooked in favour of Ashley Young for the PFA young player prize, the 22-year-old has now gained some consolation, ending fellow Irishman Richard Dunne's four-year hold on the trophy.
Ireland was the overwhelming choice of City fans, beating Vincent Kompany into second place, with Pablo Zabaleta in third.
Teenage striker Daniel Sturridge, who has still not signed a deal for next season, was named the young player of the year despite an injury-marred campaign.
[Soccernet]
Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath has revealed his impending switch to Bundesliga rivals Schalke was motivated by money.
Magath confirmed he would walk away from the Wolves at the end of the season having "reached all the goals" he set when he took over nearly two years ago.
The 55-year-old reached an agreement with Wolfsburg to terminate his contract a year early and has signed a four-year deal with Schalke from July 1.
Wolfsburg lead the Bundesliga by three points from Bayern Munich with four games remaining, but Magath happily concedes his head was turned by the approach from Schalke, a club with more tradition, ambition and, crucially, financial clout.
"We are in professional sport and it is all about money," Magath admitted. "Everything else is a load of tosh."
Magath is braced for a backlash over his decision from Wolfsburg fans, many of whom have expressed their disapproval on Internet forums.
The mood of the supporters may improve if Magath leaves the club as champions for the first time in their history, but even that prospect was not enough to make him stay, the coach admitting success would not have guaranteed his future at the club.
"Wolfsburg is not the first club I have taken forwards," he said. "But in the past, I have often been shoved out of the door after a successful start.
"From this experience, I no longer believe in promises that you can work long-term in football."
The Wolves travel to Stuttgart this weekend before facing Borussia Dortmund, Hannover and Werder Bremen in their remaining fixtures.
[Soccernet]
Coach Fred Rutten is to leave Schalke 04 at the end of the season, he said on Thursday.
Schalke have had a disappointing season in the Dutchman's first year in the Bundesliga and sacked general manager Andreas Mueller earlier this month.
"Managing director Peter Peters has told me there is no future for Fred Rutten at Schalke next season," the coach told reporters.
The team finished third in the league last season but are now eighth, 12 points off the pace. They have also been eliminated from the German Cup and UEFA Cup.
"It is a pity because Schalke are a super club and has great potential with fans who are close to the team," added the 46-year-old Rutten whose contract was due to end next year.
The supporters, however, have been demanding Rutten's removal for some time. On Sunday, Schalke lost 2-1 at home to Hamburg SV.
The club are also searching for a replacement for Mueller and have held talks with several candidates including former Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.
Manuel Neuer, among the most talented young goalkeepers in the Bundesliga, suffered a fractured metatarsal. The 22-year old Schalke 04 keeper was operated on his right foot on Wednesday.
Neuer has played eleven games for the German U 21 juniors, and has been named as a candidate to succeed national team keeper Jens Lehmann eventually. He broke the bone during Schalke’s 6:0 win in a test game against Spvgg Erkenschwick. Bernd Brexendorf, Schalke’s team doctor, said: 'If everything goes according to plan, he should be back playing in early September.'
